Ballymun Kickhams settle matters by half-time against Crokes

Jason Whelan goal soon after sending off of Ross O’Carroll proved key

Ballymun Kickhams’ James McCarthy is challenged by Andrew McGowan of Kilmacud Crokes during the Dublin Senior Football Championship semi-final at Parnell Park. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Rónán Mac Lochlainnat Parnell Park

Sat, Oct 14, 2017, 21:58

Ballymun Kickhams 2-15 Kilmacud Crokes 1-10

A 28th-minute goal from Jason Whelan proved pivotal as Ballymun Kickhams defeated Kilmacud Crokes by 2-15 to 1-10 in their Dublin SFC semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Whelan’s strike was a further body blow for a Crokes team that had seen Ross O’Carroll dismissed for a lunge on James McCarthy eight minutes previously, a decision from which Kilmacud never truly recovered.

Ballymun opened up brightly through early scores from Davy Byrne and Carl Keeley with Crokes opening up their account through a seventh-minute score from Callum Pearson that whistled over Evan Comerford’s crossbar.

Paddy Small and McCarthy stretched the Ballymun lead and three points on the bounce from Dean Rock, Whelan and Small edged Kickhams further clear prior to O’Carroll’s sending-off.

Leading by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break, the Kickhams attack impressed with Kevin Leahy chipping in with three excellent points from wing forward while Small took his personal tally to five points and Rock converted a penalty in the 49th minute after David Nestor had impeded James Burke to effectively settle the contest.

Crokes battled gamely until the final whistle and were rewarded for their efforts as Mark Vaughan scrambled home a consolation goal eight minutes from time.